Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” I don’t remember where I read about this trick of freezing a soap bubble. It has to be very cold and there has to be snow or ice already present. Where I live that doesn’t happen very often. I have tried this a couple of times before, not always with success. This past week the temperatures were way below freezing and snow, so I tried it again. When it works and I look at the images on my computer I am amazed. This time the images were even more special because I could see individual ice crystal shapes that I haven’t seen before. I was filled with amazement at the intricate beauty of the ice.
In our world of take-for-granted, technical wonders, we rush around so busily that we don’t take time for awe and wonder. We don't take the time to be amazed at the beauty in God's world. Sometimes we even read God’s word as a something to check off our list of things to do. We read the familiar stories and passages one more time without a sense of awe. We don’t take the time to just sit and be still in God’s presence. Think about those who first saw Jesus heal the paralyzed man, who first heard his teachings. They were filled with awe and wonder. Read the words of Jesus again and let them fill you with awe and wonder at his love for you. It will take some work. By the time I finished making the soap bubbles and taking the pictures I was freezing and my hands were red and sore; but I am so glad that I made the effort. Sit with God’s word this day and let it fill you with awe and wonder. Then sing your praise to God. Prayer Lord God We sit in your presence today with your Word in our laps. Help us be still in your presence. Fill us with awe and wonder so that our hearts sing your praise. Amen
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For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; On this summer morning walk I took my camera to take pictures of the passion flowers. I followed the suggestion from my photography books and “worked the scene” i.e,. changing my perspective to capture different images. I had to spend some time on my knees to capture this image of the dew on the passion flower. Only when I was up close and personal did I see how each drop of dew reflected its surroundings.
As the passion flower reveals its beauty when we look at it from different perspectives, so does our view of God reveal his care for us in the different times of our lives. Sometimes we see God as a majestic king, high and lifted up above us. In these times we praise him with great joy. There are other times when he is up close and personal. In our times of trouble we have this promise that God will come close enough to wipe away our tears. We will then reflect his love as the dew drop reflects it surroundings. Prayer Lord God, Up Close and Personal Draw us close to you this day. Wipe away our tears and lead us to your throne. Amen And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. A baby - Jesus came as a baby to a first time mother - the creator of the world as a tiny baby. Jesus, fully human and fully God, Savior of the world. Sit in awe and wonder. Merry Christmas.
Prayer Lord Jesus We bow and worship you this day as the shepherds did when you were born. Amen I am the Lord's servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. It was getting dark the summer afternoon that I took this image. The twilight makes the white flower stand out against its surrounding. It seems to shout joy in the darkness, opening up its petals to reveal its heart.
The words of Mary’s song ring out like the flower. She praises God even in a time that was not going to be easy. How could anyone believe her story, the story that would mark her maybe her whole life, unwed mother. This in a time when an unwed, pregnant women could even be stoned. She rejoiced because she trusted in a God who was her rescuer. Our joy and praise can ring out too. Christmas is coming and many will be away from family sheltering in place from the virus that ravages out world. It won’t be easy but join Mary and sing praise for the One who has come to rescue us. Prayer Break into our hearts with joy in our darkness this day. May we spend this day bringing glory to you. Amen He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, When I go to the mountains I always stop at the cabins. I try to imagine what the cabin would have been like filled with people and things. I think about what it was like to have to make a difficult journey through the mountains down to the town to get things the family couldn’t make themselves. What did it sound like when the father came home from the long journey into town? Was he relieved that the journey had been safe? Was he filled with joy when he saw his children come running to meet him?
We think about home a little more than during the holidays - some good memories and some hard. Whatever our memories of home are, we can rest assured that God provides us a home now and in the future that will be filled with joy. While currently we may only have little glimpses of what such joy feels like, there will come a time when we will come to the home God has prepared for us and great will be our shouts of joy. Prayer God of Our True Home Help us find glimpses of home this day. Fill our day with the joy of being with you. Amen The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” There was a slight chill in the air as we watched the sun go down. Soon all the leaves would be gone leaving only the beautiful, graceful branches. The tree will remain through the winter waiting for the new leaves of spring. God’s word is like the tree that remains after the leaves are gone. It waits for us to come to read it again, especially in our darkest moments when everything around us seems to be falling down. Oftentimes we say this verse after the reading of scripture in worship as a rote response. May we never loose sight of how amazing this promise is and the gift we have of God’s word.
Prayer Lord God Open our hearts and minds to your word in a special way today. May it bring its glorious light into our darkness. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan